Gas cock



March 22, 1938. c. s. STUCKENHOLT ET .AL 2,111,999

GAS COCK Filed Opt. 10, i956 l0 EOZA-lll456l46 7 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar.22, 1938 UNITED STATES GAS COCK Casper S. Stuckenholt and John J.

land, Ohio, assignors to berger Company, tion of Ohio Slavin, Cleve- TheW. J. Schoen- Gleveland, Ohio, a corpora.-

Application October 10, 1936, Serial No. 105,123

7 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in gas cocks.

The object of our invention is to provide a cock of this character whichcan not he accidentally opened to allow the gas to flow to the burnersand pertains particularly to the type of cocks in which the operatingstem of the plug valve has a longitudinal movement for releasing it fromits locked position, so that the plug valve can be then rotated todifierent positions.

Another'object of the invention is to provide a cock of this type inwhich the operating stem and the spring controllingthe latching membersare retained in their relative assembled position within the turningplug, so that the same can be readily removed from the housing withoutaffecting their assembled operative relation.

A still further object of our inventionis to provide a simple'cheap andeffective valve of this type having certain details of structure andcombination of parts hereinafter more fully set forth. 1

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of the complete valve partly in section on theline l-l of Figure 2, showing the valve in open' position;

Figure 2 is a partially exploded view of the valve showing the valve andstem held in locked position by the latchingsleeve, the sleeve beingpartly broken away; v

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the latching sleeve;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the latching key;

Figure 5 is a side View of the same;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the valve plug showing slots forreceiving latchingkey and fingers of valve stem; and

Figure 7 is an end view of the valve stem.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the numeral l denotes a castvalve housing of conventional form having in one side a bored externallythreaded right angular inlet extension 2, adapted to be connected with asuitablesource of gas supply, such as the manifold of a gas stove, notshown. The rear or outlet end of the housing, assuming that the gas cockis to be installed in horizontal position, is threaded as at 3 forconnection to a'pipe line, leading to burners or the like. Rotatablymounted in the tapering central bore 4 of the housing I is acorrespondingly tapered plug valve 5, which has its rear end bored toprovide a chamber or passage 6 which communicates with the outlet bore 1of the outlet extension 3 on the housing I. A transverse passage 8through the wall of the plug places the axial bore 6 of the plug incommunication with the inlet bore or passage 9 of the housing, when thevalve is rotated to the open position illustrated in Figure l of thedrawing.

While a one way valve has been illustrated it will be understood thatthe present invention is applicable to valves having any desirablenumber of positions. In operation the plug valve. 5 is manually rotatedby means of a valve stem 10 having its lower end extending into andinterengaging with a hollow extension I I on the outer endof the plugvalve 5, the outer end of the stem being provided with areducedflattened portion 12 for the reception of a handle 53. Hollow extensionH is formed with a circular recess l4 centrally therein and twooppositely arranged slots l5 and I6 of different width extending throughthe circumferential wall of the extension, above the recess, to permitfinger portions 11 and I8, integrally formed on the inner end of thevalve stem, to slidably and non-rotatably inter-engage the stem withplug 5 when said stem is partially entered axially within hollowextension II. The fingers I7 and I 8 are of appropriate size to snuglyfit within the slots, and like the slots are of'different width toassure proper assembly of these parts.

A flanged apertured cap 19 seated upon the I outer'end of the housing Icloses the open end of the housing and centersvalve stem ID with respectto the housing and the plug valve 5. Screws 20, extending throughintegrally formed apertured ears 2| and 2| on the flange 22 of the capand through corresponding apertured ears 23 and 23' on the housing serveto secure the cap in place. The peripheral edge of the flange 22 of thecap, at each side of the ears 2| and 2| extends beyond these ears andrests upon the flat peripheral edge or outer end wall 24 of the housing,as best illustrated in Figure 1. The flange 22 is also cut away adjacentthe apertured ear 2| to provide a rectangular recess 25 for a purposepresently described.

A coil spring 26 seatsat one end in the circular recess I 4 formed inhollow extension II of the plug 5 and normally projects beyond the outerextremity or end of the extension II. The other or free end of thisspring freely supports a latch member or washer 21 having oppositelydisposed fingers 28 and 29 thereon, difieringin length and width fromeach other. The inner or rear end of the valve stem is adapted to seaton the floating latch' member 2'! and force the same towards the bottomof recess H1 in valve extension II; when the stem is axially moved bypressing against the valve handle l3. This movement of the stem forcesthe fingers on the locking washer and stem respectively to enter therespective slots l5 and 16 in the extension ll, until the longer finger28 on the latching washer engages the peripheral edge or end wall 24 ofthe housing, thus locking the valve and stem against independentrotation but with freedom of limited relative axial movement. Theapertured cap 19 is now slipped over the stem and screwed in place uponthe housing, care being taken to register the large finger 28 on thelatching member with the rectangular locking recess 25 in the cap. Coilspring 26 normally presses the finger 28 into this recess and againstthe end. wall 30 thereof to lock the valve in closed posi tion, with theinlet opening 8 in the wall of the valve out of communication with theinlet passage 9 of the housing.

To move the valve from closed toopen position the stem is moved axiallyuntil the finger 28 of the latch member has been moved out of therectangular recess 25 in the cap sufiiciently far to clear the aperturedear 2| and to come into sliding contact with the peripheral edge orouter end wall 24 of the housing. A slight clockwise movement of thevalve stem will then cause the finger 28 to ride out of the recess 25and beneath the apertured ear 2| and in spring pressed engagement withthe inner face of the latter, until the finger contacts a stop shoulder48 on the cap flange 22, whereupon the valve will be positively stoppedin full open position. Upon movement of the valve in an opposite oranti-clockwise direction, the finger will automatically snap into therecess 25 when the valve has reached full closed position. Furthermovement in an anticlockwise direction is blocked by the side wall 3| ofrecess 25, which wall acts as a stop shoulder.

Considerable trouble has been experienced with the type of valve justdescribed due to the fact that such parts as the spring 26 and latchmember 21 frequently become lost or misplaced when it became necessaryfor the inexperienced user to disassemble the valve for lubrication orother purposes. In order to overcome this objection the valve plug 5,valve stem 13, coil spring 26 and latching member 21 are removablysecured together, so that these parts can be removed as a unit wheneverit becomes necessary to grease the plug, which is frequently the case.The assembling of the parts after the greasing operation is also greatlysimplified. This is accomplished by means of a latching sleeve or member32, the cylindrical flange 33 of which fits snugly over the extension llof the plug valve 5, with freedom for slidable and rotary movementthereon. The valve stem projects outwardly through an aperture 43centrally disposed in the top wall 34 of the sleeve and serves to guideand center the sleeve during assembly operations. The periphery offlange 33 is provided with two oppositely disposed lugs or offsetspreferably formed by inwardly displacing the metal of which the flangeis made, as at 35 and 36 respectively. This flange is also formed midwaythe offsets 35 and 36 with a rectangular recess or slot 31 correspondingin size to the large recess or slot I5 in extension ll of valve 5.

To assemble the latching sleeve the latter is slipped lengthwise overthe valve stem II, with the lugs 35 and 36 in register with the slots 15and [6, until the lugs pass beyond a peripheral shoulder 38 on the plugvalve, the stem being also forced inwardly, at the same time. The

sleeve is now rotated one quarter turn until the recess or notch 31 inthe sleeve registers with the large slot 15 in the valve, and the lugs35 and 36 are located mid-way between the slots [5 and I6. If axialpressure on the valve is now released the finger 28 on the floatinglatch member will be forced outwardly into the notch 31 in the sleeve32, outward axial movement of the latter being prevented by engagementof the lugs 35 and 36 with the peripheral shoulder 38 on the hollowextension H of the plug valve. When the cap 19 is screwed to the housingthe latching sleeve is held rather snugly to the valve extension ll, andbeing capable of but a very limited axial movement, is effectuallyprevented from jumping out of place.

While the locking sleeve latches the plug valve, and cooperating partstogether, so that they can be removed from and replaced in the housing,as a unit, the operation of the valve 'is in no way. interfered with. Asthe finger 28 of latch member or washer 21 is always in the notch 31 ofsleeve 32, rotary movement of the stem is accompanied by a correspondingmovement of the sleeve 32. Furthermore, as the valve is moved from opento closed position the finger 28 on latch member 21- and the notch 31 inthe sleeve 32 are simultaneously moved into register with the recess ornotch 25 in the cap, thus permitting the finger to be moved axially inboth notches, under the snap action of coil spring 26.

Having thus described our invention:

What we claim is:

1. A valve comprising a housing, a rotatable valve plug therein, a valvestem longitudinally movable in said plug but rotatable therewith andoutwardly spring pressed, a flanged latching sleeve rotatably andloosely sleeved on the end of said plug and locked against longitudinalmovement and. engaging the valve stem for limiting the outward movementof the valve stem in the valve plug, and latch means for locking theplug against rotation in the housing and released by the inward movementof the stem against the spring tension.

2. A valve comprising a housing, a rotatable valve plug therein, a valvestem longitudinally movable in said plug but rotatable therewith andoutwardly spring pressed, an apertured flanged latching sleeve rotatablysleeved on the end of said plug and locked against longitudinal movementand engaging the valve stem for limiting the outward movement of thevalve stem in the valve plug, and latch means for locking the plugagainst rotation in the housing and released by the inward movement ofthe stem against the spring tension.

3. A valve comprising a housing, a rotatable valve plug therein, a valvestem longitudinally movable in said plug but rotatable therewith andoutwardly spring pressed and having an outwardly faced shoulder, adetachable apertured flanged sleeve rotatably sleeved over the end ofthe plug and engaging the shoulder on said stem, and lugs on the flangeof the sleeve cooperating with a shoulder on the plug for limiting theoutward movement of the valve stem in the valve plug, and latch meansfor locking the plug against rotation in the housing and released by theinward movement of the stem against the spring tension.

4. A valve comprising a housing, a rotatable valve plug therein, a valvestem longitudinally movable in said plug but rotatable therewith andoutwardly spring pressed, a detachable apertured flanged sleeve looselysleeved. over one end of the plug and engaging a shoulder on the valvestem, the flange of said sleeve having oppositely disposed inwardlyextending lugs cooperating with a shoulder on the plug for limiting theoutward movement of the valve stem in the valve plug, and latch meansfor locking the plug against rotation in the housing and released by theinward movement of the stem against the spring tension.

5. A valve comprising a housing, a valve plug slotted and recessed atone end rotatably mounted in said housing, a valve stem longitudinallymovable in said plug and outwardly spring pressed and having anoutwardly faced shoulder, an apertured member rotatably sleeved on theslotted and recessed end of said plug and engaging the shoulder on saidstem and having a notch adapted to register with one of the slots insaid plug, lugs on said member cooperating with a peripheral shoulder onthe plug for limiting the outward movement of the valve stem in thevalve plug, a latch associated with the stem extending through one ofthe slots in said plug and into a notch in the housing for locking theplug against rotation in the housing and released by the inward movementof the stem against the spring tension.

6. A valve comprising a housing, a rotatable valve plug therein, a valvestem longitudinally movable in said plug, and outwardly spring held,

a sleeve loosely mounted on said plug and having inwardly extending lugsfor holding the sleeve against longitudinal outward movement on the plugand having an inwardly turned outer end engaging a shoulder carried bythe valve stem for limiting the outward movement thereof in the plug,and a latch means for locking the plug in the housing against rotationand released by the inward movement of the valve stem in the plug toallow the plug to be rotated by the valve stem.

7. A valve, comprising a housing, a rotatable valve plug in saidhousing, and having a recess in one end, a spring in said recess, avalve stem extending into said recess and engaging the spring, andhaving a portion beyond the plug reduced forming a shoulder, a sleevesurrounding the outer end of the plug and having inwardly turned lugsengaging the plug for locking the same thereon, an inwardly turnedflange carried by the sleeve and extending over the shoulder on thevalve stem for limiting the outward movement thereon, and a latchoperated by the inner end of the valve stem and extending throughcutaway portions in the sleeve and entering a notchin the housing forlocking the plug against rotation therein when the stem is heldoutwardly by the spring.

' CASPER S. STUCKENHOLT.

JOHN J. SLAVIN.

